noirish Los Angeles

[mrfredmertz]

Originally Posted by Rustifer

I remember his anti-smoking commercial. That was quite avante garde for that period of time to be so open about one's vice. My Dad, who was a heavy smoker, would grunt and say "Who the hell does he think he is, preaching to us like that?" Dad lived to be 91, so maybe he was right.
Talman played the role of Hamilton Burger with the interesting twist of being a massive pain-in-the-ass for Perry Mason, but also fair and willing to concede when he was wrong. I would occasionally hope that he'd whip Perry in the courtroom more often--just to hear Raymond burr take that suck of breath he always seemed to do before starting a sentence.
I still watch Perry Mason reruns since I'm fascinated with that time period in TV series. Did you know that William Hopper (who played private investigator Paul Drake) was Hedda Hopper's son? Gail Patrick Jackson, who produced the series, once acted with William's Dad, Wolfe Hopper in some obscure 1930's movie. William actually tested for the title role of Perry, but the author of the books, Erle Stanley Gardner, thought Raymond Burr fit the role perfectly.

Thanks for the kind comments on a great series. I am one of the Executive Producers of the new version of Perry Mason that will star Robert Downey Jr. on HBO. I'm happy to say that we are doing a hard-edged noir series set in the 1930s based on the original style of the Erle Stanley Gardner novels which first debuted in 1933. Noirish LA has been a great reference source for us and it's been a blast planning to bring some of what we discuss on these pages back to life.

[Rustifer]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thomas Bundy at the U.S. National championship [no date]


Library of Congress / wiki

I don't know the location of this photo.
__

I'm pretty sure back then it was considered good form to wear one's work boots when playing professional tennis, as I'm sure it added a certain fleetness not otherwise achieved by more traditional footwear...

[Rustifer]

Originally Posted by Mstimc

Agreed. Without getting too political, I think there's a reason 20th century fascist governments gravitated to this style. Its oppressive just to look at, and tends to suck the human element out of a building. Plus, unfinished concrete does not do well in any climate, and the stains and discoloration just add the overall depressing appearance. Brutalism is the perfect description for a lot of reasons.

I think the killer to this building's visage are the wispy plants hanging over the sides of the balconeys. Kind of gives it the appearance of deserted somberness, much like tumbleweeds do to an Old West town.

[Rustifer]

Originally Posted by mrfredmertz

Thanks for the kind comments on a great series. I am one of the Executive Producers of the new version of Perry Mason that will star Robert Downey Jr. on HBO. I'm happy to say that we are doing a hard-edged noir series set in the 1930s based on the original style of the Erle Stanley Gardner novels which first debuted in 1933. Noirish LA has been a great reference source for us and it's been a blast planning to bring some of what we discuss on these pages back to life.

Looking forward to it! Although I'm having a bit of trouble envisioning Robert Downey Jr. in the iconic image of Raymond Burr, especially when Erle Stanley Gardner personally proclaimed Burr as his "quintessential" Perry Mason.
But then, I didn't think anyone could ever top Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes until Jeremy Brett blew it away in the 80's PBS series.

[DViator]

Originally Posted by Mstimc

Without getting too political, I think there's a reason 20th century fascist governments gravitated to this style.

A lot of US government buildings during this time were done in this style. Just saying.

[Bristolian]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thomas Bundy at the U.S. National championship [no date]


Library of Congress / wiki

I don't know the location of this photo.
__

According to Wiki, the U.S. National Tennis Championships were held at the Newport Casino, Newport, RI from 1881-1914 so this photo was likely taken there. Bundy won three straight doubles titles, 1912-1914.

Wiki

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Have you ever wondered what the view was in 1877 from the north window of the depot's south tower? Perhaps not.

In any event, you'd look north up San Pedro St. To the left of the red dot you'd see the San Pedro Street palms; under
the green dot is the cupolaed Woodworth home (by Kysor and Mathews); on the far hilltop, next to the yellow dot . . .
I'm not sure what that is (Mary Banning house? Horticultural Pavilion?), but under the yellow dot is the tower of the
Temple Clocktower Court House. Can anyone pick out any other landmarks?:



487219 @ Huntington Digital Library

In 1877, this would still be Jacob Philippi's saloon or as he liked to call it his beer garden. But the roughneck crowd, stabbings, shootings and simple fistfights had started to get on his nerves and he'll shutter the place by about 1880-82. He'll sell it to Mary Hollister Banning in 1887 and she'll proceed to turn it into a home for herself and her two daughters. They'll move in in 1888. For what its worth, it will be one of the very last residential structures to be torn down on Fort Moore Hill.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Rustifer

I'm pretty sure back then it was considered good form to wear one's work boots when playing professional tennis, as I'm sure it added a certain fleetness not otherwise achieved by more traditional footwear...
_______________________________________________________________

LOL, I was thinking of that, too. Nowadays, this gentlemen's tennis attire would be what people wear to dress up and go out for an evening. (At least on a hot L.A. night.)

_________________

Originally Posted by mrfredmertz

Thanks for the kind comments on a great series. I am one of the Executive Producers of the new version of Perry Mason that will star Robert Downey Jr. on HBO. I'm happy to say that we are doing a hard-edged noir series set in the 1930s based on the original style of the Erle Stanley Gardner novels which first debuted in 1933. Noirish LA has been a great reference source for us and it's been a blast planning to bring some of what we discuss on these pages back to life.
_______________________________________________________________

Now I'm interested!

Any info you can share? Possible premiere date? How many episodes a season? Etc.

[Earl Boebert]

Originally Posted by mrfredmertz

Thanks for the kind comments on a great series. I am one of the Executive Producers of the new version of Perry Mason that will star Robert Downey Jr. on HBO. I'm happy to say that we are doing a hard-edged noir series set in the 1930s based on the original style of the Erle Stanley Gardner novels which first debuted in 1933. Noirish LA has been a great reference source for us and it's been a blast planning to bring some of what we discuss on these pages back to life.

Great news, and I wish you all the best.

Please, for all that is Holy, do not make the mistake that "Gangster Squad" did and show people firing automatics with a two-handed grip. My father was a peace officer during the 1930s and he and most of his colleagues hated automatics. His saying was that more people got shot by accident with automatics than got shot on purpose with revolvers.

He also taught me to shoot with his service revolver. One handed, arm outstretched. Sight picture, sight alignment, squeeze.

And also, please have somebody teach your actors how to wear a hat :-) (Another howler in "Gangster Squad")

(Example below, from 1933)

[HossC]

For what it's worth, although Brutalism isn't my favorite archtectural style, I quite like the Liberty Savings and Loan building from yesterday's post.


-----------------


Hopefully, we're back to a less contentious building with today's Julius Shulman post. It's "Job 559: Stiles Oliver Clements, Zandt Carpet Company, 1949".



A different angle on the sign.



The parking lot around the back.



This is the only interior shot. It's a great open space with no supporting columns.



All from Getty Research Institute

The Zandt Carpet Co was at 1122 N Vine Street, with the Colehurst Apartments at 1106. While the apartment building is still standing (the first floor has lost some of its glamour), the carpet store has gone, replaced by the Hollywood Social Security Office.


GSV

Here's the 2003 demo permit, which I believe shows the building in the Shulman photos. Who writes "Demo entire building" on a Stiles Oliver Clements design?


Online Building Records

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

This may have been taken from the same window as the previous photo; this looks a bit more to the west, and the house
cut off at the right edge below is the same one cut off at the left edge above. The obvious landmark is St. Vibiana's, just
below 2nd Street. To the left of St. Vibiana's, there's a fence enclosing some hillside property below a house; those are
the home and yard of Mrs. Shepherd, on the north side of 1st, between Hill and Olive:



“View from the Santa Monica Depot, Los Angeles” (1877) @ CA St. Library

Huh. I've posted that image before and never noticed one can see that little house I'm so fond of up on the hill to the right (north) of Mrs Shepherd's house. It was eventually addressed as 318 Court Street. Court Flight was built along its north side.

The little house also shows in this photo you shared from the 1870s:

Originally Posted by tovangar2

islandora

And here's looking the other way in 1876, the depot out in the weeds. The Roundhouse and Gov Downey's residence visible on Main:

uscdl (detail)

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by HossC

Getty Research Institute

The Zandt Carpet Co was at 1122 N Vine Street, with the Colehurst Apartments at 1106.

If ever a building cried out to be repurposed, it was this fine one. The replacement looks much less useful for anything.

Originally Posted by HossC

Who writes "Demo entire building" on a Stiles Oliver Clements design?

Us, I guess. Thirty-five years after the Richfield was destroyed and we had learned nothing. We still haven't.


The permit for the Colehurst Apartments was pulled by the Cornelius Cole Company in 1924, a week before Cornelius Cole, a one-time US Senator, died at 102. He founded Colegrove (which coincidentally was his wife's maiden name) and some of the streets thereabouts are named for family members: Cole St., Willoughby Ave., Eleanor St. and Seward St.. Cole was from Lodi, NY, that name is via him too.

The Colehurst was designed by Lester Hudson Hibbard, who had a long and prolific career after starting as a draftsman for Hunt and Grey.

Cole campaigned long and loudly against the proposed Hollywood Cemetery "blighting" his town, but, he's now buried there, as is Mr Hibbard.

Orchard Gables was designed for Sen Cole by Norman Foote in 1904:

M2A


Saved from the wrecking ball and now nicely repurposed as LACER, a non-profit youth arts organization, it's at Wilcox and Fountain:

gsv

The Colehurst (yes, it's had a parapet correction):

gsv

Just east of the Colehurst at 6245 Santa Monica Blvd, is Paramount Recorders. It has a great history. All the individual Beatles recorded here e_r.

gsv

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

In 1877, this would still be Jacob Philippi's saloon or as he liked to call it his beer garden. But the roughneck crowd, stabbings, shootings and simple fistfights had started to get on his nerves and he'll shutter the place by about 1880-82. He'll sell it to Mary Hollister Banning in 1887 and she'll proceed to turn it into a home for herself and her two daughters. They'll move in in 1888. For what its worth, it will be one of the very last residential structures to be torn down on Fort Moore Hill.

Thank you for supplying the dates and other information on the Banning home, MR; do you know when it was turned into apartments?

I think we've already seen this 1927 photo of the Banning home:



00026524 at LAPL


This photo appears to have been taken around the same time as the previous image. There is a glimpse of the Banning
carriage house at far right:



Islandora


You previously posted this nice shot of the Banning carriage house:

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

Here's a shot of the Banning carriage house...


Banning carriage house, Arnold Hylen, 1952

This is the carriage house to Mary Hollister Banning's house which sat on the north brow of Fort Moore Hill overlooking the north portal of the Broadway tunnel and the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and N. Broadway. While the main house numbered on Broadway, the carriage house actually backed up to Hill Street just across from the high school.

California State Library, the California History Room

The Banning carriage house is at the center of this image I just came across. It looks north on N. Hill Street on Decoration
(now Memorial) Day, c. 1907-09. The school building at the left edge of the photo (just north of the 1891 LAHS building) is
not on the 1906 Sanborn Map, but it is on the 1910 Baist Map. At right is the High School Annex:



SCWHR-P-005-N0258 at Seaver Center


Here's the Banning home at 535 N. Broadway and carriage house at 535-1/2 on the 1906 Sanborn:



ProQuest via LAPL

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Huh. I've posted that image before and never noticed one can see that little house I'm so fond of up on the hill to the right (north) of Mrs Shepherd's house. It was eventually addressed as 318 Court Street. Court Flight was built along its north side.

The little house also shows in this photo you shared from the 1870s:


islandora

Speaking of Court Flight, I guess this 1876 photo shows where Court Flight will be built. We're looking down Franklin/Court St.,
with the two-story brick 1853/54 jail just above and to the right of center. Fort St./Broadway runs along the base of the hill,
with New High and Spring Streets east of and parallel to Fort/Broadway. The Temple Clocktower Court House is at upper left:



487373 at Huntington Digital Library

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Speaking of Court Flight, I guess this 1876 photo shows where Court Flight will be built. We're looking down Franklin/Court St.,
with the two-story brick 1853/54 jail just above and to the right of center. Fort St./Broadway runs along the base of the hill,
with New High and Spring Streets east of and parallel to Fort/Broadway. The Temple Clocktower Court House is at upper left:



487373 at Huntington Digital Library

Nice shot Flyingwedge. Do you think it was taken from 318 Court?

1899. Less than a quarter of a century later, the slope looked like this, with Franklin coming in to meet Broadway in the lower, left corner:

Originally Posted by tovangar2

cc pierce http://www.shorpy.com/node/7259?size=_original#caption

1910:

historicmapworks

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Nice shot Flyingwedge. Do you think it was taken from 318 Court?

1899. Less than a quarter of a century later, the slope looked like this, with Franklin coming in to meet Broadway in the lower, left corner:


1910:

historicmapworks

I had a gig at Ramon Cortines School last week on what's left of Fort Hill (hint: not much) and was inspired to spend some time nosing about the subject. This remarkable view from Denver Library is looking south at what I believe to be Fort Hill. I think the photo must have been taken from near the Hebrew Cemetery, with Chavez Ravine Rd snaking thru the right foreground. A thousand apologies if this is rehash.




Is it just my fevered imagination or can we see the Baker and Wills homes? it seemed like a match the other night but now I'm not so sure.




as a reminder:

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

In this c. 1900 photo looking south, the Wills home is on the right, and the Baker home is in the middle, with the dome:



00061421 at LAPL


This c. 1898 (or perhaps earlier?) shot looks north across Fort Moore Place at the Wills home, with the Baker home
behind the photographer and Sonora Town in the distance:



00055093 at LAPL

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

If ever a building cried out to be repurposed, it was this fine one. The replacement looks much less useful for anything.


Just east of the Colehurst at 6245 Santa Monica Blvd, is Paramount Recorders. It has a great history. All the individual Beatles recorded here e_r.

gsv

I used to live on Santa Monica Blvd.... one block east of this location [Paramount Recorders].
Once as I was going west on the sidewalk... walking towards me was singer Bobby Sherman. We had a brief encounter by the white gate at the right in this T2 photo....hugely friendly guy.

Coincidentally we're almost the exact same age.


pinterest

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

What do we have here?


The photographer forgot rule #1.
__

Rule #1 is to remember to take the lens cap off.

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Thank you for supplying the dates and other information on the Banning home, MR; do you know when it was turned into apartments?


Here's the Banning home at 535 N. Broadway and carriage house at 535-1/2 on the 1906 Sanborn:



ProQuest via LAPL

Not with any certainty but I don't believe the house was used as a single family residence following Mary's passing in 1919 as the girls had by then moved on. By 1937 the main house was a warren of small rental spaces and the carriage house had become the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart Convent. Herman Schulteis recorded both structures in '37.


The former home of Mary Hollister Banning, Fort Moore Hill, Herman Schultheis, ca.1937


Originally built by former local beer maker Jacob Philippi when he opened shop as a barkeep on Fort Moore Hill in about 1877. Being difficult to reach, particularly after a rain, the saloon attracted a rough crowd and after a few years of fist-,gun- and knife fights Philippi called it quits and retreated back down the hill simply boarding it up and leaving. Following Phineas Banning's death in 1885, his widow, Mary Hollister Banning relocated from Wilmington and chose to purchase and refurbish the structure as a rather unusual home. With two strong-willed daughters in tow, particularly Lucy the younger girl whose life of misbegotten decision-making could fill a book, Mary appreciated the relative isolation as well as the view and frequent breeze the brow of the hill afforded. At 535 N. Broadway, here, well past its prime, now serving as a boarding house, it overlooked the north portal of the Broadway tunnel. Mary's step-son Hancock Banning built his own house on Fort Moore Hill at 416 N. Broadway. It overlooked the south portal of the Broadway tunnel.


Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart Convent, Herman Schultheis, 1937


Well, this is interesting. Here is the archived (LAPL) caption: 'This Queen Anne structure on Fort Moore Hill was the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart Convent. Women perform daily tasks in the yard. The city view to the south(?) is striking because the convent is built next a the steep hillside.' Before becoming a convent, this was the carriage house of the former home of Mary Hollister Banning and it overlooks Sonora Town to the north, not the south. The main house was originally Jacob Philippi's Saloon which Mary Banning had purchased in 1887-8 or so and had turned into a well appointed, if odd, mansion. The main house faced N. Broadway on top of Fort Moore Hill while the carriage house backed up to N. Hill Street where it passed in front of the high school, and looked down on what would become Sunset Boulevard. Architecturally, the carriage house echoed the distinctive main house/former saloon.

LAPL


More on the wild daughter Lucy...


http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/05/local/me-then5

[Rustifer]

Originally Posted by HossC

For what it's worth, although Brutalism isn't my favorite archtectural style, I quite like the Liberty Savings and Loan building from yesterday's post.


-----------------


Hopefully, we're back to a less contentious building with today's Julius Shulman post. It's "Job 559: Stiles Oliver Clements, Zandt Carpet Company, 1949".



A different angle on the sign.



The parking lot around the back.



This is the only interior shot. It's a great open space with no supporting columns.



All from Getty Research Institute

The Zandt Carpet Co was at 1122 N Vine Street, with the Colehurst Apartments at 1106. While the apartment building is still standing (the first floor has lost some of its glamour), the carpet store has gone, replaced by the Hollywood Social Security Office.


GSV

Here's the 2003 demo permit, which I believe shows the building in the Shulman photos. Who writes "Demo entire building" on a Stiles Oliver Clements design?


Online Building Records

I'm guessing when you get 'called onto the carpet' in this place, it really means something